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WKU Colonnade Program

Why Colonnade?

TOP 5 THINGS YOU WILL GET OUT OF THE COLONNADE PROGRAM

1. COLONNADE COURSES WILL HELP YOU BE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE STUDENT

Since most students take Colonnade courses in their first five semesters, these courses
will help you build the skills necessary to be a successful college student. Through
Colonnade, you will become a more proficient note taker, writer, time manager, researcher,
as well as a group participant and group leader. Regardless of discipline, the skills
you acquire in Colonnade courses will be applicable in a wide variety of classes –
and beyond.

2. COLONNADE COURSES WILL OPEN UP NEW ACADEMIC AND INTELLECTUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Although college provides valuable opportunities to learn more about yourself and
your chosen major, you must be ready to take the courses that build foundational knowledge
and skills. Don’t worry, you will still be able to do what you love if you study well
and dedicate yourself to excellence in each course. Also, who knows? Maybe that sociology
class you take sophomore year will take you by surprise and lead you to switch to
this field of study. It is extremely common for college students to change their mind
early on and pick a different major than the one they originally selected. Colonnade
courses are a great way to make sure you give each of these areas a chance; you could
end up learning more than you expected, ultimately identifying the career path that
is ideal for you. Don’t miss out on this potential discovery just because you failed
to take Colonnade courses seriously. Appreciate these general requirements and see
where they take you on your journey.

3. COLONNADE COURSES WILL COMPLEMENT YOUR MAJOR

The required courses that make up the Colonnade Program will prepare students for
the advanced coursework that is a part of their major. Think that taking a course
on Managerial Communications to fulfill a Colonnade requirement isn’t relevant to an information technology degree?
Think again. An IT professional may supervise staff, negotiate with product vendors
and develop company procedures - job responsibilities that require basic skills in
effective communication. Colonnade electives enable you to take courses that not only
strengthen your skills and abilities for future course work, but also foster the proficiencies
employers most value in the workforce.

4. COLONNADE COURSES WILL HELP YOU ACQUIRE ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS

According to a study done by AACU, 91% of employers said they are asking employees
to take on more responsibilities and to use a broader set of skills than in the past.
In other words, job seekers need to know a lot more than just the basic skills required
to work within their fields. Additionally, 88% of employers said that to succeed in
their companies, employees need higher levels of learning and knowledge than they
did in the past. In short, employers prize ethical reasoning, communication, and quantitative
literacy as equal to or more important than hard skills.

5. COLONNADE COURSES WILL HELP YOU ADAPT TO A CONSTANTLY CHANGING WORLD

In the end, general education requirements are all about preparing students for the
unknown. A student’s interests can change, careers may advance, and new jobs may be
created—all situations where a foundational skillset and broad-based knowledge are
necessary for success. The purpose of the Colonnade program is to give students abilities
that can’t be found in a textbook and that will be used throughout one’s personal
and professional life; they are the product of communication, analysis, problem solving,
and experience.